In this work Munch came closest to fulfilling his ambition to produce paintings which would make people feel 'the sanctity of this moment and take off their hats as if they were in church'. With no prior knowledge of the title the spectator would be aware that something terrifying and tragic had happened. But unlike The Sick Child in which attention is drawn to the fate of the invalid herself, in this painting attention is drawn to the effect of death on the living. Each family member is depicted in isolation from the others; each reacts in an individual way to the tragedy taking place.